Combination sealing, venting, and filtering means

ABSTRACT

A combination sealing, venting, and filter element for positioning between a replaceable water bottle and a dispensing stand includes an annular base member from which a resilient tapered flange extends upwardly to sealingly engage the bottle and from which a second L-shaped flange extends radially outwardly therefrom to sealingly contact said stand. A vent aperture extends through such element and through a chamber into which a replaceable filter element is positioned.

United States Patent [151 3,667,l 97 Frahm et al. [45] June 6, 1972 [541 COMBINATION SEALING, VENTING, 1,806,977 5/1931 Kennen ..210/474 x AND FILTERING MEANS 2,381,104 8/1945 Burnham 210/474 X 2,635,784 4/1953 Bering et a1 ..55/502 x [72] Inventors: Carl E. Frahm, 1428 Oak Meadon Road; Shirley E. Frahm, both of 1428 Oak Meadow Road, Arcadia, Calif. 91006 [22] Filed: Mar. 23, I970 [21] Appl. No.: 21,763

[52] US. Cl.....'. ..55/502 [51] Int. Cl .B0ld 46/10 [58] Field ofSearch ..55/309,3l0,384,385,391, 55/502, 504; 210/472, 474-476, 25]

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,155,259 4/1939 Dickson ..55/502 Primary Examiner-John Adee Att0rneyLy0n & Lyon 5 7] ABSTRACT A combination sealing, venting, and filter element for positioning between a replaceable water bottle and a dispensing stand includes an annular base member from which a resilient tapered flange extends upwardly to sealingly engage the bottle and from which a second L-shaped flange extends radially outwardly therefrom to sealingly contact said stand. A vent aperture extends through such element and through a chamber into which a replaceable filter element is positioned.

2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures \IIIIIIIJ'IIIIJ PATENTEBJUN 6 m2 3.667. 197

FIG 1,

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A TTOE/VE V5 COMBINATION SEALING, VENTING, AND FILTERING MEANS The present invention relates to improved means and techniques useful in he art of dispensing bottled water.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved sealing element for positioning between a water bottle and the stand on which such bottle is supported in inverted condition.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved sealing element of this character which has the additional feature of providing a vent for water in the reservoir of the stand.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved sealing element of this character which is capable of providing the additional function of assuring a filtering of air flowing from the atmosphere to a space above the water in the stand reservoir.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a water dispenser embodying features of the present invention with a typical or conventional water bottle shown in relation to the combination sealing and venting and filtering means.

FIG. 2 is a view taken as indicated by the lines 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1 but with the weight of a partially filled water bottle distorting the sealing means to effect a good seal.

FIG. 4 is a view taken substantially as indicated by the line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate perspective views of the filter means with a portion of the filter means in FIG. 6 broken away to show internal construction.

FIG. 7 is a view taken substantially as indicated by the line 7-7 in FIG. 4 with, however, the filter element removed.

That part of the conventional water bottle stand or water dispenser 8 shown in FIG. 1 includes a sheet metal structure formed to provide a horizontal shelf member 10 continguous with a downwardly extending cylindrical receptacle or reservoir 12 into which the open mouth portion of a conventional water bottle 14 extends. The water is dispensed by gravity from the reservoir 12 through a conventional manually operated valve (not shown) positioned near or at the bottom of reservoir 12.

An annular seal structure is positioned between the annular flat shelf portion 10 to assure a good seal that seals against possible leakage of water. The presence of such sealing structure 20, if not vented in accordance with features of the present invention would cause sub-atmospheric pressure to be developed in that internal space adjacent such seal when and as water is dispensed from the lower end of reservoir 12 and thus cause an objectionable diminution in rate of dispensed water flow. To obviate that problem, the sealing structure 20 is provided with a vent channel or bore 20A that extends through the inner wall of structure 20 and terminates in a chamber 203 within which a replacable filter element 22 is frictionally held.

A purpose of such filter 22 is to filter the air which passes from the surrounding contaminated and dust or dirt laden atmosphere through such filter 22 and channel 20A into the space above reservoir 12 in the automatic process of maintaining the desired full atmospheric pressure above the water in reservoir 12.

For these multipurposes, the combination sealing, venting, and filtering structure is of the special construction now described in detail.

The sealing structure 20 is of plastic material in the general form of a ring which in cross section includes, as seen in FIG. 3, a relatively heavy base portion 205 from which a thin wall flexible and tapered sealing ring portion 20F extends upwardly as a cantilever to sealingly contact the outer surface of water bottle 14. Also, this base portion 20E has a generally L-shaped flange portion 206 extending radiall outwardly therefrom with its downwardly extending leg 2 H sealingly contacting the shelf 10, the other horizontally extending leg portion 20K being sufficiently prolonged and sufficiently thin in cross section to be flexible to assure a good seal with shelf 10 despite any irregularities in its surface.

The previously mentioned chamber 208 which frictionally receives and retains filter element 22 is defined by the following, namely: a portion of flange 20F serving as a back wall; an arcuate strip 20L suitably secured or integrally formed with the sealing member 20 and serving as a ceiling for the chamber; and a portion of the flange 20G which serves as the floor of such chamber 20B.

The disposable filter element 22 of hollow perforated plastic material is commensurately shaped, is filled with suitable porous filter material 228 and is provided with an outer arcuate flanged portion 22C which cooperates with the'arcuate chamber portion 20L to limit inward movement of the filter element 22 into its chamber 20B. This filter element 22 may be replaced each time a bottle is emptied and replaced by a filled bottle.

We claim:

1. A sealing and venting arrangement for positioning between a fluid dispenser and a replaceable container of said fluid, an annular element having one portion thereof resiliently engaging said container and having a second portion resiliently engaging said dispenser, a venting aperture extending through said sealing element, said element having a base portion from which a first annular resilient and tapered flange element extends upwardly and from which a. second generally L-shaped flange element extends radially outwardly with said first element being sufficiently resilient to conform with surface irregularities on said container and with said second element being sufficiently resilient to conform to surface irregularities in said dispenser, said venting aperture extending through a portion of said base portion and also through a portion of said tapered flange element, chamber means formed on said sealing element, and a replaceable filter element releasably secured in said chamber, said chamber means extending only partially around the periphery of said sealing element without disturbing appreciably the resiliency of said first and second flange elements.

2. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1 in which said chamber means is a generally semi-cylindrical opening defined by an arcuate strip having an edge thereof secured to said first flange element. 

1. A sealing and venting arrangement for positioning between a fluid dispenser and a replaceable container of said fluid, an annular element having one portion thereof resiliently engaging said container and having a second portion resiliently engaging said dispenser, a venting aperture extending through said sealing element, said element having a base portion from which a first annular resilient and tapered flange element extends upwardly and from which a second generally L-shaped flange element extends radially outwardly with said first element being sufficiently resilient to conform with surface irregularities on said container and with said second element being sufficiently resilient to conform to surface irregularities in said dispenser, said venting aperture extending through a portion of said base portion and also through a portion of said tapered flange element, chamber means formed on said sealing element, and a replaceable filter element releasably secured in said chamber, said chamber means extending only partially around the periphery of said sealing element without disturbing appreciably the resiliency of said first and second flange elements.
 2. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1 in which said chamber means is a generally semi-cylindrical opening defined by an arcuate strip having an edge thereof secured to said first flange element. 